Fluency and hard work on the agenda

The Mainz stadium, from this season known as the Opel Arena, is well known as a sticky wicket for opponents. FSV Mainz 05 play football based on running, sprinting and combative ability and nobody knows that better than Julian Baumgartlinger who spent five years at the club. The new signing at Bayer 04 returns to his old stomping ground on Saturday afternoon (15.30 CET) and is well aware of the challenge facing the Werkself. "I know how difficult Mainz can make it for their opponents at their own ground plus they’re on a good run and they've got momentum on their side. But if we keep it tight and play effectively then we can get a result," said the Leverkusen midfielder.

Of course, Roger Schmidt is also hoping for a successful Saturday afternoon for his players. "It will be a completely different game from the last four matches where we had to play against teams with well-organised defences. This time against Mainz we’re facing a very courageous and aggressive opponent who deserve to be where they are in the league. I'm expecting the toughest game of the season so far and I also expect us to improve," said the Bayer 04 head coach at the pre-match press conference at the media centre in the BayArena was broadcast live on bayer04.de and Facebook.

"Move up a gear"

The Werkself coach also made it clear that he and his players are deeply unhappy with the haul of four points from four games but he is not disappointed by the application of his team: The team invested a lot of effort and worked hard against Augsburg but you need more than just work: inspiration, creativity and desire. The basics were good on Wednesday but we need to improve in other areas and move up a gear at Mainz. Ingenuity and fluency are very important for achieving a balanced performance on the pitch."

The Bayer 04 coach is not losing any sleep about the two penalties missed by the Werkself in the last two games. "Obviously we talk about who takes the penalties and Chicha and Charles are our best penalty takers. Indeed, that was the first time Charles has missed one in his whole career," said Schmidt, "but we need to put it behind us, look forward and improve. I think there's a high probability the next one will end up in the back of the net regardless of who takes it."

Joy at Kießling's comeback

The endeavour to create more up front through power and efficiency sees the coach build on the return of Stefan Kießling who made his comeback against Augsburg after a long injury lay-off to the joy of every Werkself fan. "It was a very difficult time for Kieß and he’s worked hard to get fit again. Stefan was very fresh and mobile when he came on and we’re all happy he's back again. I think he will soon be one of the leading players again as he has been over the past few years," declared Schmidt.

Bayer 04 go to Mainz without the injured players Karim Bellarabi and Vladlen Yurchenko.